Japanese Government and Public Holidays - be aware that some of these are subject to change so check your calendars to confirm.

January 1 - New Year's Day (National Holiday)
The Japanese celebrate New Year's in a big way; as such, businesses are generally closed from the 1st - 3rd. New Year's is the time where Japan's traditions are celebrated.

January 15 - Adult's Day (National Holiday)
Adult's Day celebrates the advent of adulthood; when young Japanese turn 20, they are considered legal adults.

February 11 - National Foundation Day (National Holiday)

March 20 or 21 - Vernal Equinox Day (National Holiday)
The day is celebrated in Buddhist temples where people attend special services and pray for the souls of departed loved ones.

April 29 - Greenery Day (National Holiday)
A celebration of the former emperor, Hirohito.

April 29 - May 5 - Golden Week
Golden Week is one of the more important holiday times for the Japanese. Many spend their vacations traveling, so it's actually a good time to visit larger cities (fewer crowds).

May 3 - Constitution Memorial Day (National Holiday)

May 5 - Children's Day (National Holiday)
This holiday traditionally honors young boys.

September 15 - Respect For The Aged Day (National Holiday)

Septmber 23 or 24 - Autumn Equinox Day (National Holiday)

October 10 - Health and Sports Day (National Holiday)

November 3 - Culture Day (National Holiday)

November 23 - Labor Thanksgiving Day (National Holiday)

December 23 - Emperor's Birthday (National Holiday)

December 31 - New Year's Eve

Korean Government and Public Holidays - Also be advised that some of these are subject to change so check your calendars to confirm.

Jan 1 -- Solar New Year's Day.

Day Before Lunar New Year's Day.
Lunar New Year's Day. (All lunar - check calendar)
Day After Lunar New Year's Day.

It has 3/4 daily departures usually ranging from 8 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon both ways.

It takes 2 hours and 55 minutes.

Cost is 180 000 won return from Busan and 240 000 return from Fukuoka(I guess the Japanese are richer) and halve that for a one way.

There is a bus stop just outside the ferry terminal and a bus comes every 5/10 minutes.

Be Aware: Immigration in Fukuoka are pretty strict so have your act together. If they suspect you are lying they will hold you and send you back here no problems.

Also on the Japanese Entrance Immigration Card you must put the place/hotel you are staying, even if you don't know. This has caught many a tourist out and is a big deal to immigration there.
A suggestion is Green Hotel Hakata as this is a standard business hotel immiration are very familiar with.

Busan Immigration are quite relaxed and normally there is no hassle.

Also the boat is run by JR - japan railways so it is very clean, efficient and well run.

BIG PRO TIP: Make sure you change all your money from won to yen(or US dollars) before you depart in Busan as Japan DOES NOT exchange yen anywhere, even on the boat. I cannot emphasize this enough as it has caught out more than a few passangers.

Have a nice trip and if you have any more questions about the Fukuoka run or anything about Fukuoka in general PM me.

BIG PRO TIP: Make sure you change all your money from won to yen(or US dollars) before you depart in Busan as Japan DOES NOT exchange yen anywhere, even on the boat. I cannot emphasize this enough as it has caught out more than a few passangers.

If you're coming in by boat, you can convert Won at the seaport in Fukuoka. The currency exchange desk there is operated by Shinkan Bank of Fukuoka and opens at 7:30am (can't remember when they close.).

If you're flying in, you can exchange Won at the Fukuoka airport. Their exchange desk is open from 7:30am-9pm.

If you're downtown, near Tenjin, then you can also convert Won at the Shinkan Bank on the 8th floor of the Tenjin Mitsui Bldg. Closes at 4:30pm, as I recall.

To add to Just Because's notes, don't expect your ATM card to be a back-up financial resource in Japan. Japanese ATMs, even if they say International, Plus or Cirrus, are notoriously problematic when trying to withdraw from international banks. Credit cards will work, but forget about the ATM cards. Just plan on bringing cash.

I never saw the currency exchange at the fukouka ferry terminal. I saw a sign that said that you can exchange money at the post office. If you arrive on a sunday the post office won't be open though.
Play it safe and get your money exchanged in Korea.

When you leave fukouka make sure you have enough yen for the departure tax. it's either 400 or 700 yen. One time i was caught 100 yen short. thankfully they exchanged a 1000 won straight across.

For some fairly decent round-trip packages from Busan to Fukuoka, try a place in Busan called Kangsan Travel. (kangsantravel.com) They cater to foreigners (english speakers anyway), and I got a round-trip, one night hotel package, for 190,000won. Not sure if it's just the time of year or not, but I figured that wasn't a bad deal. Going from Seoul, you can now get the really fast express train to Busan and then the ferry to Japan - a cheaper option than flying and you can do it in 2 days.

I've just been given VERY short notice that I have to do a visa run to Fukuoka TOMORROW. I thought I would be going to Osaka, which I've done twice before, so I wasn't worried about it. But now I need to find out rather expeditiously -

1:Where is the Korean consulate in Fukuoka? and,
2:How do I get there from the airport?

I know this info is floating around somewhere in cyberspace, but because of the hasty nature of my predicament, I was hoping one of the more technologically enlightened amongst you could take pity and speed it to me.

There are two companies that offer boat servieces between fukuoka and busan.
Kobee (the korean one) and Beetle (the japanese on, operated by JR)
They both make three or four trips each way a day.
Around 9.
Around 12.
Areound 3.
Sometimes around 5.
If there is a currency exchange in the ferry terminal, it is new.
It is difficult to exchange won in japan.
Impossible on weekends.
Unless or course the rumors about the money exchange are in fact true.
Bus #55 or maybe #5 to get to Tenjin (τΈγκ)
Subway from Tenjin to Tojuin Machi.
Walk a bit.
There ya are.
Get the packaged from kansang travel as mentioned below.
No problem.
Tenjin for most of your drinking needs.
All set.
Back to busan.
The boat always smells like kimchi on the way back.